Mrs Sabre

Lunch on June 17th sounds good. I should be on mushies by then! I also hope I can drag Jennifer and Stacy along with me this time?

Congratulations Angie! I can't wait to get into a size 12 jeans!

I'm here, home, and & banded! Aside from discovering two more antibiotics to which I am allergic, I had a good and uneventful surgery! Woo Hoo! I've finally joined the land of the banded! :clap2: Sip, sip, sip; and walk, walk, walk! My port incision is the only one that's tender, otherwise, I really feel good!

I'm sure this isn't the first time someone has asked, but how soon after surgery can I be sexually intimate with my husband? It's one of the few things I didn't think to ask until after I left the doctor's office for my pre-op. Thanks!

I've had my eyes lined for three years now. I researched the tattoo artist for a long time before deciding to proceed. I paid $250 in a spa setting, and it took three sessions because my right eye wanted to "bleed out" (... bleed heavy pushing the ink out). A numbing cream was used, but it did still sting some. I'm thrilled with the outcome! :clap2: An acquaintance on the other hand paid $1,000 to a tattoo artist at a cosmetic surgery office to have her eyes & lips lined. She had her eyeliner done green, and it looks OK. Her lip liner is a brown shade, and without lipstick she looks like she has been sucking mud! It looks dirty and hideous! Long and short, do your research before committing to have it done! Good luck!

:funnypost: You are all wonderful and funny! I love it! Having just had spinal injections for a pinched nerve & arthritis, my DH is afraid of hurting me. He's sweet, & I'm horny! :nervous I'll ask before surgery on Monday! Thanks All!

I'm sure the docs don't want us popping stitches, staples, glue, or whatever is keeping us closed up. I guess I'm gonna have to get busy this weekend! :becky:

Jill, I'm sorry I didn't answer you. My liquid diet has been going great! I'm down 7 pounds in 10 days! I know it won't last, but I'm loving it while it does! I find unjury unflavored Protein powder the most versatile, I add it to juice, Soup, etc. I've been getting just under 1,000 calories a day, low fat, low sugar, and plenty of protein.

OMG Kathy! The way you word that is hilarious! I've known older folks like that. Heaven forbid a child should get germs from a dog! OK Jill, I see you out there lurking; it's your turn to chime in!

The problems I'm having with my back/leg are overshadowing the joy of my eminent lap-band surgery. In addition to a pinched nerve, the pain specialist believes I have arthritis in my spine too. I went for an MRI this morning. I managed 4 minutes on the first attempt before I had to hit the "panick" button because of severe pain down my leg. Fortunately, the technician was able to elevate my legs enough to take the pressure off the nerve and alleviate most of the pain for me to stand the requisite 25 minutes in the MRI machine. From there I limped over to the main hospital to do my pre-surgical lab & meeting with the anesthesiologist. That went OK, but the hospital doesn't show me as day surgery, and advised me to pack an overnight bag. That was unexpected, and I'll confirm with Dr. V on Friday. In a nut shell, this is zapping every ounce of emotional strength I have in me! :faint: I guess the bright side is it's also kept me distracted from any food cravings whatsoever. It's day 3; the headache is gone, and I haven't had any appreciable hunger.

I had the first series of spinal injections on Tuesday, and was told it would take up to four days to feel the full effect. If it's only going to get better, then I may not need additional injections. What pain is left is incredibly minor! Dianne, for now the pain doc is dictating my exercise. He said walk 1/2 mile for two weeks and increase by 1/2 mile every two weeks. I have a follow up visit with him next Thursday, and will discuss core exercises then. Thanks for all the TLC folks; I really appreciate it! It's helped me through a most trying time!

Kathy, Happy Bandiversary! Melissa, hang in there! You seem to know what you need to change? You can do it! Angie, God Bless you! Albeit hard, your approach is best for the children. Kim, you're working too hard :confused: Everyone else, you're being awfully quiet out there! I went back to my PCP over the pinched nerve. After 16 days of NSAIDS, we've now moved on to steroids. He too was disappointed at the insurance denial. I'm hoping it's standard procedure and the appeals letter takes care of it? I should know in a couple more weeks.

Hi All; I'm back! I had my first series of spinal injections this morning. I was scared going in, but after sedation it wasn't that bad. It may be 2-4 days before I feel the full benefit of the Cortisol, but the epidural into the pinched nerve has helped a lot already. Six days to go! Woo Hoo! I am very excited about getting my band. My back, work, and church activities have kept my mind occupied; so the pre-op diet has largely been a breeze for me. I can't wait to see you all "on the other side"! :biggrin1: It's back to work tomorrow ... oh joy. :bored TTFN; love you all! :confused:

I think my diet/weight loss is encouraging John to get back on the wagon with his diabetic diet. He' not completely diabetic, but was told if he didn't straighten out he would be. He's come a long way over the last couple of years, but still has some work to do. As for lunch or a pool party in June, or postponing the pool party for July, I'm flexible. Keep me posted, and I'll be there!

Welcome! I'm scheduled for my band with Dr.V (Voellinger) here in Charlotte on Monday, June 5th. I've liked him and his staff a lot! I don't know what self pay runs with him, but like Dr. B, he's very experienced. Good luck in your quest, and please feel free to ask as many questions as you like. We've all been there

Busy weekend for me. I had my pre-op w/ Dr. V on Friday, we're good to go for June 5th. Pre-op liquids have been no problem so far, and I'm down 6 lbs. this week! I also saw the pain doc. My MRI results were mixed. I do have arthritis in my spine, but the good news is the pinched nerve is caused by a compressed disk. My weight loss should completely resolve the compression. I am still on for spinal injections tomorrow to relieve my pain in the mean time. Please say a prayer; I'm a little scared. Jennifer, Chloe, and I swam on Saturday. Saturday evening I took the senior church members out for dinner. Yesterday we had a morning church service followed by a picnic. Yesterday afternoon, John and I went shopping at Circuit City. Like many places, they're have awesome Memorial Day sales. I'm typing this on my new fully loaded HP Pavilion laptop.

John doesn't want to come. OK by me.

Thanks everyone! I've definitely come to the conclusion that my ability to cope with the pain is directly related to how well I sleep. I deal a lot better if I get a decent night sleep. I haven't had one in a couple of nights, and thus have been both down & grouchy. I'm going straight to bed after work and hope for a better day tomorrow. I see Dr. V for my pre-op tomorrow morning, and see the pain doc tomorrow afternoon to discuss the results of my MRI and specifics of the spinal injections I'll receive next Tuesday. God bless you all, and thank you again!

God Bless and thank you all! Kathy, I have my first in a series of 3 sets of injection next Tuesday, May 30th. They take 3-4 hours at the hospital and home to rest thereafter. I'm praying they take care of the pain, as I'd prefer not to have to have back surgery if I can help it.

Overall, either month is fine for me. The only date I CAN'T make it is June 24th. I'd be happy to either help you with meat or a side dish. I'm thinking mashed cauliflower.

Speaking of liquid meal replacements, I've tried the Unjury brand. The Strawberry Sorbet is good mixed with water. The Chocolate is OK, a little bland, but not bad. I also mix unflavored with cream soups before they're warmed, and couldn't taste it. (Caution, warm not hot. If you overheat, added protein will clump.)

Hi everyone! I'm on Day 2 of 2 weeks of pre-op liquids. I'm as dizzy :dizzy: as a drunken person right now, but I'm also on medications for spinal pain. :hurt I'm not hungry, but do have a slight headache. I'm not going to take the pain meds tomorrow and see if I fair better. I have an MRI early tomorrow morning, and am scheduled for my first series of spinal injections next Tuesday, before my lap-band surgery on June 5th. I'm hoping I'll only have one source of pain to deal with two weeks from now. :clap2: I've also noticed more abdominal gas? What's up with that; I'm not eating. :eek: I hope everyone is doing well!

... and am I the only one who noticed Kathy's collar bones? Way to go girl! I don't remember what my collar bones look like.

OK Jill, I'm confused? :eek: My avatar shows a cross & rise of Jesus.

I went to the pain doctor this morning. He believes I have arthritis in my back in addition to the pinched nerve. I'll have an MRI on Wednesday morning, and the first of three scheduled spinal injections next Tuesday at the hospital. It's going to be interesting to see whether or not I'll be able to take the 2nd & 3rd injections scheduled after my lap-band? The examination this morning really aggrevated the pain radiating down my leg!:hurt On a brighter note, day one of liquids was actually quite easy! I had 870 calories and 97 grams of Protein today.